The Color Purple (2019) – Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

March 13 – May 5, 2019

Based upon the novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture

Music and Lyrics by

Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray

Book by

Marsha Norman

The Color Purple was produced on Broadway at the Broadway Theater by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, and Quincy Jones. The world premiere of The Color Purple was produced by the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Georgia.

From Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller and Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated film comes a stage musical with a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues. This stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life.

THE COLOR PURPLE

is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by TRW.

www.theatricalrights.com

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C A S T

Kanysha Williams

Celie

Nia Savoy

Shut Avery

Kadejah Oné

Sofia

Ashanti Symone Branch

Nettie

Wendell Jordan

Mister

Carl L. Williams

Harpo

William Anderson

Preacher/Ol’ Mister/African Chief

IO Browne

Squeak

Montel Butler

Pa/Ensemble

Anthony Cosby

Adam/Ensemble

Brandon J. Johns

Guard/Ensemble

Rhonda Oliver

Church Lady/Ensemble

Theodore Sapp

Buster/Bobby/Ensemble

C. Alexander Smith

Grady/Ensemble

Brittny Smith

Church Lady/Ensemble

Chasida Alexa Taylor

Olivia/Ensemble

Taylor J. Washington

Church Lady/Ensemble

Stacy Harley

African Chief, Male Ensemble u/s

C R E A T I V E

Music and Lyrics by

Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray

Book by

Marsha Norman

Based on

The novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture

Produced by

Patrick A’Hearn

Directed by

Amy Jones

Music Direction by

Garrett Jones

Scenic Design by

Frank Foster

Projection Design by

Patrick W. Lord

Lighting Design by

Michael Jarett

Costume Design by

Kyna Chilcot

Sound Design by

George Ligon

Production Stage Manager

James Davis

Properties Master & Set Dresser

Bridgid K. Burge

R E L A T E D

RC News & Announcements

Jan 23, 2020

[Free Lance-Star] Big emotions, big performances: A look back at theater in 2019

Jan 23, 2020

Another year, another decade.

With the incredible wealth of theater in the area, it’s impossible to see everything. Before launching into another year of shows, let’s take a look back at some of the works that left a big mark—or smile—with this reviewer. Here are some of my favorites:

Jan 23, 2020

Jun 3, 2019

[CBS6’s Virginia This Morning] Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents “The Color Purple”

Jun 3, 2019

RICHMOND, Va. – The 1982 Alice Walker novel “The Color Purple” was introduced to a wider audience with the 1985 movie, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was among the producers who helped bring a musical based on the book to Broadway in 2004. That musical is the latest offering of the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg. The theatre’s producing artistic director, Patrick A’Hearn along with Kanysha Williams and Kadejah One, who play Celie and Sofia in the production are here to share about the musical and perform a song.

Jun 3, 2019

CURTAIN CALLS: ‘The Color Purple’ is the new gold

Jun 3, 2019

For some reason, stories about rape, incest, degradation, and spousal abuse don’t spring to mind when we think of plots for uplifting musicals. Nevertheless, such is the searing, epistolary story that forms the basis for “The Color Purple”, Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 1983 which was quickly followed by a film in 1985. A musical version had to happen.

That Broadway hit, which ran from ’05 to ’08, garnered eleven Tony nominations and a Tony-winning revival that ran from late 2015 to 2017. Dramatically speaking, “…Purple” is gold.

That musical revival in all its scorching, heart-breaking glory awaits patrons at the Riverside Center through May 5. If you pick and choose which shows to see, see this one. If you’ve never been, but always meant to go, go now.

Jun 3, 2019

BWW Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Jun 3, 2019

Alice Walker‘s Pulitzer-winning The Color Purple is one of the greatest stories of the last 50 years, and its musical adaptation is one of the most magical Broadway experiences of the last 20 years. Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has captured much of that charm in its moving production of The Color Purple, running through May 5 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Jun 3, 2019

Culpeper music maker contributes to success of ‘The Color Purple’ at Riverside

Jun 3, 2019

One of Culpeper’s great musical figures is contributing his talents to a new production of “The Color Purple” at The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Stafford County.

C. Alexander Smith, music worship leader for Culpeper Baptist Church and director of the Blue Ridge Chorale, plays Grady in a show that features a cast of Broadway-caliber actors.

Jun 3, 2019

Review: ‘The Color Purple’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Jun 3, 2019

Magic. Magnificent. Marvelous. There are only so many superlatives I can muster in such a small space, but The Color Purple, now running at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, is phenomenal. Director Amy Jones, Music Director and Conductor Garrett Jones, and Riverside’s Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn, who also produced the show, have put on the must-see show for this spring.

Jun 3, 2019

A vibrant and powerful ‘Color Purple’ soars at Riverside

Jun 3, 2019

Over the past several months, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has brought an enchanting Disney tale (“Beauty and the Beast”), a rollicking Buddy Holly revue (“A Rockabilly Christmas”) and an endearing drag queen extravaganza (“La Cage aux Folles”). With its current offering and season-closer, “The Color Purple,” Riverside is going straight for the heart.

Audiences, be prepared to be put through an emotional wringer.

Jun 3, 2019

Riverside stages rebooted musical version of Alice Walker’s ‘The Color Purple’

Jun 3, 2019

What is Fredericksburg’s favorite color?

Well, through early May, it’s shaping up to be purple.

“The Color Purple” made its regional début yesterday at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts and runs through May 5.

Jun 3, 2019

Kanysha Williams and Nia Savoy preview “The Color Purple” with Town Talk’s Ted Schubel!

Jun 3, 2019

Listen to Kanysha Williams (Celie) and Nia Savoy (Shug Avery) preview our upcoming production of The Color Purple at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center’s Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A’Hearn and Town Talk’s Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).

Jun 3, 2019

Wendell Jordan, Kadejah Oné, and Carl L. Williams preview “The Color Purple” with Town Talk’s Ted Schubel!

Jun 3, 2019

Listen to Wendell Jordan (Mister), Kadejah Oné (Sofia), and Carl L. Williams (Harpo) preview our upcoming production of The Color Purple at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center’s Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A’Hearn and Town Talk’s Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).

Jun 3, 2019